Combination hand puppet and sports ball

ABSTRACT

A plush toy is reversible between a first configuration in which the toy resembles a sports ball, and a second configuration in which the toy is a hand puppet. In the second configuration, the toy comprises an opening at a lower portion thereof for receiving a user&#39;s hand. The opening can be configured to allow the user to control one or more facial or other features of the puppet.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to the field of toys, and in particular to a reversible hand puppet/sports ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many toys, such as dolls and stuffed animals, are formed of cloth, fabric and stuffing materials. Some soft plush toys have been developed which are convertible or changeable from one shape or form to another. There remains room for further improvements and developments in these types of toys.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a plush toy is provided that is reversible between a first configuration in which the toy resembles a sports ball, and a second configuration in which the toy is a hand puppet. In the second configuration, the toy comprises an opening at a lower portion thereof for receiving a user's hand. The opening can be configured to allow the user to control one or more facial or other features of the puppet.

In another embodiment, a toy comprises a reversible fabric article having a first configuration in which a first fabric surface of the article is positioned on an exterior of the article. The first fabric surface is decorated to resemble a sports ball. The article has a second configuration wherein the article assumes the shape of a puppet, and wherein the first fabric surface is positioned on an interior of the article. The puppet has an opening at a lower portion of the article. The opening is sized to receive a hand of a user therein, and is configured to allow a user to control features of the puppet.

In another embodiment, a combination hand puppet and sports ball comprises a sewn fabric article arranged in a shape of a puppet having a head, a body, arms, legs and an opening configured to receive a user's hand. The opening is located at a lower portion of the puppet, and comprises portions configured to allow a user to control at least one of the head, arms and legs of the puppet via the opening. The article is further configured to be turned inside-out to an inverted position such that an interior surface of the opening surrounds the article. In the inverted position, the article is configured to resemble a sports ball.

A method of using a toy is also provided. The method comprises acquiring a plush toy in a shape resembling a sports ball and having an opening in a portion thereof. The method is continued by inverting the toy by moving interior portions of the toy to the exterior such that the toy assumes a shape of a hand puppet upon inverting. One can then operate the hand puppet by inserting a hand into the opening and manipulating at least one feature of the puppet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Having thus summarized the general nature of the invention, certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description herein having reference to the figures that follow, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hand puppet/sports ball toy shown in the hand puppet configuration on a wearer's hand;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a user inverting the toy of FIG. 1 into a sports ball shape;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the toy of FIG. 2 converted mostly into a sports ball with a portion of the puppet still visible;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the toy in a sports ball configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, embodiments of a combination hand puppet and sports ball will now be described. In general, embodiments of a toy 10 as described herein can be configured to be changed from a shape of a stuffed animal/hand puppet shape 12 (e.g. FIG. 1) to a shape of a sports ball 20 (e.g. FIG. 5). In the first configuration, the hand puppet 12 comprises an opening 22 at a lower portion of the puppet 12 in order to allow a user 24 to operate the puppet. The puppet 12 can be provided with various features which can be controlled by a user's hand from within the opening 22.

In some embodiments, the puppet 12 can include various features that can be controlled by a user's hand from within the opening 22. In some embodiments, such features can include the character's arms 30, legs 32, head 34, mouth 36, ears 37, eyes 38, nose 40, tail 42, etc. In some embodiments, specific portions of the opening 22 can be configured to provide control of these features. For example, the arms 30, legs 32, mouth 36, etc. can include hollow cavities into which a user 24 can insert a finger (or fingers) to control those features. In further embodiments, the features could include substantially rigid, or semi-rigid elements extending through a feature (such as an arm or leg) that can be engaged by a user's finger simply by pressing against an interior surface within the opening 22. It is generally advantageous to provide the puppet with as many manipulable features as possible. In general, more manipulable features make for a more personified puppet, which can increase a child's interest in the puppet.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hand puppet 12 is in the shape of a caricatured dog. In alternative embodiments, the hand puppet can be formed in the shape of other animals, such as “realistic” or caricatured representations of other dogs, cats, people, or any other animal or object.

The toy 10 is generally configured such that it can be turned inside-out to form a shape of a sports ball. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of a toy being turned inside-out from a “dog” shape to a “sports ball” shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the sports ball 20 is configured to resemble a football. To accomplish the appearance of a football, the toy can be provided with “laces” 50, seams, brown or tan coloring, etc. In alternative embodiments, the toy 10 can be configured to resemble other sports balls when inverted from the hand-puppet configuration. For example, the toy 10 can be configured to resemble a baseball, basketball, hockey puck, water polo ball, soccer ball, volleyball, etc. by providing appropriate coloring, lines, seams and features.

In some embodiments, the toy can 10 include a closure mechanism for closing the opening 22 in the sports ball configuration 20. Any suitable closure mechanism, such as zippers, buttons, snaps, hook-and-loop closures and others can be used as desired. In other embodiments, the toy 10 does not include any closure mechanism at the opening. In one embodiment, a feature of the ball, such as a seam or lacing, etc. can be aligned with the opening so as to substantially hide the opening in the feature of the ball.

In some embodiments, the toy 10 can bear an emblem 52 with a name or logo of a sports team, a player, or any other identifying information. Such emblems can be configured to be visible in either or both of the sports ball 20 and the puppet 12 configurations. Additionally, in some embodiments, the puppet 12 can be arranged to wear a uniform of a sports team in a sport associated with the ball in the ball configuration. Thus, for example, in the illustrated embodiment, the puppet 12 is shown wearing a uniform of a football team, and the toy is convertible into a shape of a football 20.

Embodiments of a toy as described herein can be made of many suitable fabrics and materials. For example, the outer surfaces of the toy can comprise felt, cotton, linen, wool, nylon, spandex, or any other natural or synthetic material. In some embodiments, emblems 52 are patches sewn onto the toy, while in other embodiments, the emblems are dyed or printed directly on the material of the toy. In some embodiments, portions of the toy can also be stuffed with cotton batting, synthetic fiber fills, or other suitable stuffing materials as desired. Any additional materials can also be used as desired. In some embodiments, the puppets limbs can be stuffed to be sufficiently rigid to retain a normal shape without the need for a user's hand within the opening. Thus, in the puppet configuration 12, the toy can also be used as a stuffed animal without a user's hand in the opening.

Although certain embodiments and examples have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many aspects of the methods and devices shown and described in the present disclosure may be differently combined and/or modified to form still further embodiments. Additionally, it will be recognized that the methods described herein may be practiced using any device suitable for performing the recited steps. Such alternative embodiments and/or uses of the methods and devices described above and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow. 

1. A toy comprising: a reversible fabric article having a first configuration in which a first fabric surface of the article is positioned on an exterior of the article, the first fabric surface being decorated to resemble a sports ball, the article having a second configuration wherein the article assumes the shape of a puppet and wherein the first fabric surface is positioned on an interior of the article, the puppet having an opening at a lower portion of the article, the opening being sized to receive a hand of a user therein, and being configured to allow a user to control at least one feature of the puppet.
 2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the opening includes a portion extending into a feature of the puppet.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the feature comprises at least one member of the group consisting of arm, leg, ear, nose, mouth, tail, and eye.
 4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the opening does not include a closure mechanism.
 5. The toy of claim 1, further comprising a first emblem positioned on a front portion of the puppet and a second emblem on an outer surface of the ball.
 6. A combination hand puppet and sports ball toy comprising: a sewn fabric article arranged in a shape of a puppet having a head, a body, arms, legs and an opening configured to receive a user's hand, the opening being located at a lower portion of the puppet, the opening comprising portions configured to allow a user to control at least one of the head, arms and legs of the puppet via the opening; wherein the article is further configured to be turned inside-out to an inverted position such that an interior surface of the opening surrounds the article, wherein, in the inverted position, the article is configured to resemble a sports ball.
 7. The toy of claim 6, wherein portions of the article comprise a stuffing material therein.
 8. The toy of claim 6, wherein the article comprises an emblem on an outer portion thereof in at least one of the puppet configuration or the sports ball configuration.
 9. A method of using a toy, the method comprising: acquiring a plush toy in a shape resembling a sports ball and having an opening in a portion thereof; inverting the toy by moving interior portions of the toy to the exterior, wherein the toy assumes the shape of a hand puppet upon said inverting; operating said hand puppet by inserting a hand into said opening and manipulating at least one feature of the puppet.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the feature comprises at least one member of the group consisting of arm, leg, ear, nose, mouth, tail, and eye.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a first emblem positioned on a front portion of the puppet and a second emblem on an outer surface of the ball. 